The digital world changes daily as users and competitors develop new trends and expectations. Some of these trends stay for a longer period of time, while some get quickly over. In all these trends, some trends completely change the entire game, and usher UX/UI design into a new era of creativity and innovativeness, and set new standards that the entire industry has to meet. This means that designers and business people need to be aware of the best practices and the latest changes in their field to make their customers aware of their brand’s innovative strength. As a business owner, you should know that the vast majority of your customers are online, visiting a dozen websites every day. Hence, it is of great importance for you to do every possible thing within your capacity to make your website appealing enough.
And the freshest and best UI / UX design trends can help you with what will give your website an edge over the competition. To get the most out of your website, we bring you the leading UI / UX design trends that will make your website more attractive to users.
1. Dark Mode
Hands down to the leading trend in 2020 that was even picked up as an alternative theme by the world’s leading brands such as Instagram, Android, and Apple. Yes, it is the dark mode design; but what’s worth discussing is that why this dark mode design got so popular, that it even become a trend. Some of the possible reasons that we got to know include the following;
- It’s modern, chic, elegant, and sophisticated.
- Black (dark) background emphasizes other design elements
- OLED/AMOLED screens reduce battery consumption
- In poor lighting conditions, eyes were spared (less tired)
- Most of the applications give users the option to turn on dark mode at will, while others have the option to schedule the ignition of a dark theme.
2. Illustrations
Another trend that marked 2020 is the illustrated elements that help develop positive emotions in your website visitors. These “unfinished” elements make the overall design of the website more relaxed and authentic. Users love these “hand-drawn” elements and graphics because they add a dose of uniqueness and character to the entire design.
These sort of ‘intentional imperfections’ add uniqueness and a human touch to the brand and have become one of the latest trends that are receiving frequent preferences in the world of web designing. So, we can say that the planet of web designing which is long ruled by pixel-perfect graphics for years, is now actually changing. This trend of ‘imperfect illustrations’ is enabling brands to create a completely unique, different, and eye-catching brand identity that instantly catches the attention of the viewers.
3. 3d Elements
3D is nothing revolutionary in the world of web design, and these elements have fascinated internet users for years. With augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) growing in popularity in 2020, it is certain that the trend towards hyper-realistic 3D graphics will continue in 2021. This trend is helping designers and website owners to encourage their customers to spend more time on the website and potentially converting to customers. Also, 3D visual provided viewers a unique user experience between the digital and real world.
However, the success of 3D elements largely depends on the design of the user interface. Therefore, a web application that uses such elements must be well optimized and load quickly in order for such content to achieve the desired effects. If the website loads slowly due to “heavy” 3D elements, this can only have the opposite effect.
4. Floating Elements, Soft Shadows, Layers
What do you think of creating depth with a layer? Smooth 3D elements? Floating graphics and soft shadows can give a slight sense of the 3D effect, although they are much softer compared to real 3D elements. Apply, layers and shadows to the text, images, and video for additional effectiveness.
Stacking elements is an important thing for UI / UX designers today. By applying soft shadows, you also add depth. By combining these techniques, designers can create a light feel for the website and move away from the classic, “flat” design that has dominated in recent years.
5. VUI
VUI (Voice User Interface) can improve your online presence. Virtual assistants and voice chatbots made a major breakthrough in the web design market this year, and not without reason. They are practically changing the way users search for information, communicate with businesses, and in general the way they use the Internet. You can easily gain an extra advantage over your competition by using VUI elements.
6. Presentation Of E-Commerce Products
No matter which web design trend you choose, if you are in the e-commerce business, you will definitely want to present your products in the best possible way. Discarding old and boring realistic photos, therefore, requires a new, modern approach. This new UI / UX trend offers online shops and e-commerce platforms the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity. It’s about “hypnotizing” customers with interesting and exciting product photos. The objective is to appeal imagination of your user, making them stay a bit longer on the site.
7. Mix Graphics And Images
What do you think of the overlapping graphics and images on your website? This popular trend allows you to maximally explore your creative side and implement a design that will ‘blow’ your visitors. With this technique, you give your website a helping of character and uniqueness and, depending on your wishes, contribute to the playfulness or seriousness of the website. It is a great way to validate the popularity of your brand and tell your story your way.
8. Abstract Elements
Databases, lists, and tables look very out of date, boring and unattractive. In addition to visualizing abstract data, websites are an interesting way for users to present information. For example, suppose you sell hardware devices. This way you can present your products in a unique way.
9. Realistic Textures
Textures seem to be a returning trend in the world of UX/UI designing after a long year of rule by ethereal gradient and isometric objects. Realistic textures are turning out great as a factor that is helping users to stay for a bit longer on the websites. Still, make sure that the textures are created with taste. If you overdo it, you risk confusing visitors and distracting them from the products and services you are offering. Strive for balance so that the overall design is harmonious.
10. Wild Color Mixes
Be bold and futuristic when it comes to color on your website as this is one of the leading trends for the next year. Try to experiment with different colors that are not usually combined to grab your visitors’ attention. Leave the monotony of colors and minimal designs in the trench and opt for wild color contrasts to outshine the competition.
Try new things like neon colors. Remember, the goal is to get noticed.
11. Cheeky Typography
2020 and 2021 will be all about UI / UX design. Although typography is not something new, it is still gaining a lot of popularity. The point is, most visitors look at your headlines first. To grab the attention of visitors, highlight the titles with bold fonts. You can also help highlight elements on the website, such as B. categories, products, services, etc. In addition, high-quality typography makes the overall design more modern.
12. UX Writing & Microcopy: Written Content’s New Era
If you are into making or selling websites, then you must know that a great product is never perfect, and there is always room for betterment. This is why your customer wants a story that justifies your style and also goes with your brand.
And, a great way to establish your brand identity and motivate website visitors is to offer them an informal, unique, and provocative website. The fact is, internet users are fed up with old-fashioned marketing texts and have ‘read’ previous methods of copywriting that are always aimed at the same feelings. As a result, copywriters and companies have to improve their way of approaching their customers. The dialogues have become less formal, more frequent, friendlier, and even more humorous, depending on the expectations of the target group.
Microscopic copies are another great way to enhance the UI / UX design as they give the website a unique tone and allow you to get closer to the end-user. However, they are only effective if they match the brand tone and are personalized. These short texts must be brand-related in order to have an effect, otherwise, they will not be noticed by the user.
In sum, these are some of the most anticipated trends projected by experts for the year 2021. As you can notice, various trends (like 3D elements and typography) have been around for a while, but there are also many new things that are likely to affect the digital world more than we can currently imagine.
If you are a business owner, try combining two or more trends for the best effect. Alternatively, you can always consult a professional consultancy and development company, if you want reliable, specialized services. Professionals in the field offer you their experience and knowledge to create a modern design that fits your brand and helps your brand stand out in the industry.
Author Bio
Kylie Jenner is a Professional Digital Marketer at Code Creators Inc. A SharePoint development company in the USA that provides software development services, power BI consulting, mobile app, and more.
